To set yourself up for success, practice the f-word: forgiveness

When someone has hurt you—or maybe you’ve let yourself down—the negative feelings come easily. They rush in quickly, filling you up and weighing you down. Getting rid of them?That’s the hard part. But, according to positive vibes guru and #1 New York Times bestselling author Gabby Bernstein, the only way forward—towards lightness and freedom and all good things—is through forgiveness. Photo: Gabrielle Bernstein

To set yourself up for success this year, finish this five-week practice strong by practicing the F-word: forgiveness.

If we want to be free from judgment, we must be willing to forgive. Without forgiveness, we continue to live in the shadows of our past and our projections of the future.

One thing that is very important to remember about forgiveness is that it sets you free. Forgiving doesn’t mean you let someone off the hook for seriously hurting you, and it certainly doesn’t mean you need to let them into your life. But you don’t have to waste your very precious energy judging them.

Instead, you can be free.

Forgiveness is a core theme in spiritual practices, and it’s necessary if we want to live with freedom and grace.

This week, I want to give you a very simple tool that has helped me greatly when I need to forgive someone.

A meditation for forgiveness

If I’m in a heated place, no matter how angry or wounded I may feel, when I use this practice I can always come back to a place of oneness and forgiveness.

You may not always be able to forgive immediately. That’s okay. You simply need to be willing to forgive. Your willingness is enough to open the door to forgiveness. When you become willing, spirit hears your call and guides your path.

Call in the person who you’re willing to forgive. (It might even be yourself in some cases.)

Think about all the things you love about them.

Call on all the reasons you feel connected to them, all the ways in which they bring you joy, all the ways they support you.

If you have a hard time thinking of things you love about the person you want to forgive, you can call on the valuable lessons you’ve learned from difficult times with them.

Call on the good that has come from this relationship.

Start to cultivate the feeling of that goodness, love, acceptance and appreciation.

As you do this, you’ll feel a sense of relief wash over you. This is forgiveness.

The feeling of relief, release, and surrender means you are letting go.

Forgiveness is a process. While this forgiveness practice is simple, forgiving someone can be hard. When you have a lot of hurt or anger, it can be difficult to surrender. But all it takes to forgive someone is your willingness.

You can start by focusing your practice on someone you might resent just a bit—that can be a lot easier to release. When you read Judgment Detox, you’ll be guided to forgive and release judgments, resentments, and anger that may be very deep-rooted. The peace you will feel will be immense and amazing. But starting small is very powerful and will show you the promise of forgiveness and all the benefits it offers.

Remember, forgiveness is a blessing for you. When you let go, you release yourself of the tension and trauma that keeps you stuck in a low-level vibration. By releasing that tension you free your energy field to create a new and miraculous life.

Order Gabby Bernstein’s new book,Judgment Detox, to follow her six-step method for clearing judgment and releasing the beliefs that hold you back from living a better life. When you order the book you’ll get Gabby’s 2-hour manifesting workshop as a free gift. Gabby Bernstein is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Universe Has Your Back, and her other best-sellers include Miracles Now, May Cause Miracles, Add More ~ing to Your Life, and Spirit Junkie. She is the founder of the Spirit Junkie Masterclass training and the Miracle Membership. Oprah’s SuperSoul Sunday named her a “next-generation thought leader,” and The New York Times called her “a new role model.” She appears regularly on The Dr. Oz Show and Today. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.